Counseling Appointments
How often should I meet with a counselor?
• At least once per semester.
• You are free to choose any counselor from our staff.
• Meet with a counselor before registration and schedule an appointment approximately one month after beginning of the current semester to do an Education Plan.
Who can I contact if I was enrolled in special education courses (K-12) or have been diagnosed with a psychological, physical or other disability?
• You are encouraged to contact the Disabled Students Program & Services (DSP&S) located in SSB 117 or at 323-241-5480. Please provide an IEP, proof of disability, or contact information of a physician or health care provider for verification of you disability.
Course Planning
What is a student educational plan (SEP)?
• Multi-semester plan of courses that you will take to complete your educational goal.
What is a unit and how many should I take per session/semester?
• The amount of college credit earned by satisfactory completion of a specific course taken for one semester.
• 12 units are considered full time.
• The amount of units recommended varies depending on your schedule.
What do pre-requisite, co-requisite, and advisory mean?
• A Pre-requisite is a measure of readiness for a course or program that a student is required to meet as a condition of enrolling in a course or a program.
• A co-requisite is a requirement that must be satisfied at the time a particular course is taken; usually a co-requisite is concurrent enrollment in another course but may in certain situations be completed at an earlier time.
• An advisory is a measure of readiness for a course or program that is recommended for students.
What classes should I take for my major?
• Associate degree - check the general catalog for specific course requirements.
• Transfer - transfer major sheets are available in the counseling department.
• For transfer to a UC or CSU campus please refer to
www.assist.org
• Schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor.
What is the difference between major requirements and general education?
• Major requirements - specific courses required in your field of study
• General education- coursework required in a variety of disciplines that must be completed in order to fulfill graduation requirements.
How do I get help choosing a major?
Visit the Career Center where you can take career assessments and meet with a Career Counselor. There are resources, workshops and courses such as Personal Development 1 available to help you explore majors and careers.
AA/AS Degree
What is an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree?
Associate in Arts degree is granted by a community college which recognizes a student’s satisfactory completion of an organized program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units
What is the difference between an AA and an AS degree?
Whether the degree is an AA or AS is predetermined by the major. To find out if your intended degree is an AA or AS please refer to the college catalog.
Do I have to get an AA/AS degree to transfer?
No, universities do not require an associate degree to transfer.
What is the difference between graduation plan A and graduation plan B?
Graduation Plan A
- requires 30 units of general education
Graduation Plan B
- requires 18 units of general education
The plan that you follow depends on your major. Please refer to the college catalog or schedule an appointment with a counselor to determine the correct plan for your major.
When and how do I apply for my AA or AS Degree?
Apply during the semester when you think you are completing your final AA/AS requirements. Schedule an appointment with a counselor for a graduation evaluation and if you meet the requirements a graduation petition will be completed.
Check "Grad Petition" filing dates in the current Schedule of Classes calendar section.
Grades
How do I calculate my grade point average?
How to Calculate Your GPA (pdf)
How do I check my grades at the end of the semester?
check grades (you may need to refresh the page)
What is Progress Probation?
When a student is enrolled in 12 units or more and receives a "W", "I", or "NC" for more than 50% of the courses attempted.
What is Academic Probation?
When your cumulative grade point average is below 2.0.
How do D's, F's, W's and NCR affect my academic record?
• D's and F's affect your grade point average.
• W's and NCR's are not computed in the grade point average.
Can I repeat a course?
• A course in which you received a "D" or "F" can be repeated three times without permission.
• If you do not pass the course the third time around you will need to petition by completing the "Repeat with Special Circumstances" form for approval by Admissions.
What is academic renewal?
Academic Renewal is a forgiveness policy that allows students to remove courses in which a grade of "D" or "F" was received from the grade point average calculation. In order to qualify for Academic Renewal two conditions must be met:
- At least two calendar years must have elapsed from the time the coursework was completed.
- Student must have achieved a grade point average of 2.5 in their last 15 semester units or 2.0 in their last 30 semester units at any accredited college or university.
If you cannot find the answer you were looking for, please see our Ask a Counselor flyer (pdf)
